Thermostatically controlled gas valve



April 6, 1937. A. e. SCHAEFER 2,076,045

THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED GAS VALVLE Filed Nov. 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG].

\ A. e. SCHAEFER THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED GAS VALVE .April 6, 1937.

Filed Nov, 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 6, 1937. A, SCHAEFER 2,076,045

' THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED GAs vALvEf Filed Nov. 20, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATE THERMO STATICALLY CONTROLLED GAS VALVE August George Schaefer, Attleboro, Mass, as-

signor to Spencer Thermostat Company, Attleboro, Mass. a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 20, 1935, Serial No. 50,660

6 Claims.

more specific features, to a combination safety 7 pilot valve and regulating valve.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision, in a unitary structure, of a combination safety pilot valve and a regulating valve of the diaphragm type, in which passages leading from the combination of valves are minimized in number and combined in an effective manner; and the provision of a combination valve of the class described which is relatively simple in construction and operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out a hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements,.features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In .the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the combination valve embodying the present invention, including a diagrammatic representation of certain connections thereto;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the valve of Fig. 1, taken from the left-hand side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve of Fig. 1, taken from the reverse side thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and illustrating the construction of a safety pilot valvei Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and illustrating the construction of a diaphragm valve; and

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 5, but taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several-views of the drawings.

In the application of Waldo A. Saul, Serial No. 56,071, filed December 24, 1935, there is shown and described a novel form of safety pilot valve. In the application of John A. Spencer, Serial No. 735,215, filed July 14, 1934, now Patent No. 2,039,- 358, dated May 5, 1936, there is shown and described a diaphragm or regulating valve. It is the object of the present invention to combine the Saul safety pilot valve and the said Spencer diaphragm valve into a unitary structure with such consequent advantages as will be made apparent hereinafter. The safety pilot valve and the regulating valve are separately claimed in the respective Saul and Spencer applications identified.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, index character X indicates the safety pilot valve forming part of the present invention. Index character Y similarly indicates the diaphragm or regulating valve. These two valves are combined together in a unitary structure, as will be pointed out hereinafter.

The structure of the safety pilot valve X is as follows:

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2, and 4, numeral l indicates a valve body having an inlet 3, and an outlet portion 5, respectively. The body I includes an internal chamber (see Fig. 4) which is divided by a customary partition 6 into an inlet chamber 1 and an outlet chamber 9. The partition 6 includes an opening II, which provides a valve seat I3, in the usual manner.

The inlet 3 is provided with an auxiliary opening 8 for a pilot line or the like. Opening.

8 is normally not used, unless an unprotected constant-burning pilot ,fiame is desired. In the drawings a plug I2 is shown as closing off the opening 8.

Extending in one direction from the valve casing I at right angles to the plane of the opening II, is a cylindrical housing member I5, which inwardly terminates in a bearing portion I6. The member I5 is closed at its outer end by a plug II, which is in turn held in position by a nut I8 threaded to the end of cylinder I5. The plug 11 has a central threaded-opening to receive the threaded stem I9 of a flexible bellows 2|. The relative position of the bellows 2| in the cylindrical member I5 may be adjusted by threading the stem I9 into and out of the plug ll. A lock nut 22 holds the bellows in position once' it is established.

Sealed to the outer end of the stem I9 is a so-called capillary metallic tube 23, which is sufficiently flexible to permit of its being bent,'without breaking, during installation of the device. To the other end of the tube 23 is afilxed a bulb 25. The bulb 25, tube 23, stem I9 and bellows 2| are all sealed together in a closed arrangement, so that no leakage of a fluid in the system may take place. Their particular construction is the subject of the copending application of John A.

Spencer, Serial No. 696,344, filed November 2,

The bearing portion I5 slidably receives a stem 21 to which is aflixed valve closure element or disc 29. The disc 29 is adapted to seat upon the valve seat I3, in order to place the valve in closed condition so that communication between inlet 3 and outlet 5 is cut off. The opposite end of the valve stem 21 abuts the inner end 3| of the bellows 2 I 'On the opposite side of the valve casing is provided a threaded opening 33 which is coaxial with the cylindrical housing l5. Into the opening 33 fits a threaded cap or plug 35, which outwardly terminates in a bearing portion 31, exteriorly threaded to receive a cap 38, shown in Fig. l and Fig. 2. The bearing portion 31 includes a central opening 39 through which slides a stem 4|. To the outer end of the stem 4| is threaded a manually operative knob 43. A. lock nut 80 holds the knob 43 in position. The inner end of the stem 4| comprises a back-seating valve closure element 42, which seats against a back-seating valve seat 40 formed in the plug 35. There is provided a passage 44 surrounding the stem 4|, which communicates with a radial bore 45, which in turn communicates with a bore 46 leading to an annular groove 41 in the face of the plug 35. The outer end of the bore 45 is sealed oif, as indicated at numeral 48. The annular groove 41 juxtaposes an annular groove 49 of identical size site direction.

in the face of the body portion Communicating with this groove 49 is a passage 50 which leads to a threaded outlet 5|. In operation, the outlet 5| receives a pipe 52 which conducts gas to a preheat pilot burner 53 (see Fig. 1) which is adapted to heat the bulb 25.

Inwardiy threaded into the stem 4| (see Fig. 4) is a pin portion 54 of reduced diameter. A look nut 8| holds the pin 54 in fixed position. The inner end of the pin 54, in assembly, seats in a suitable opening 55 in a boss 56 formed on one face of a movable housing 51. The housing 51 is somewhat frusto-conical in shape, and carries mounted at its wider side, a spring actuating element 58. The actuating element 58 is preferably a radially corrugated snap-acting disc, and is preferably made in accordance with the teachings of John A. Spencer Patent 1,972,172, dated September 4, 1934. It comprises a disc of resilient metal, such as spring brass, steel or the like, which is provided with a relatively large number of radial corrugations 59, a central opening 60, and a flat uncorrugated rim portion 6|. The flat rimmed portion 6| seats upon a shoulder 62 formed in the housing 51, and is peripherally spaced by a ring 258, which is thicker than the rim 6| of the disc 58. A loose ring or washer 63 is placed on the other side of the rim 6|, and the edge of the housing is then over-turned or spun inwardly, as illustrated at numeral 64, in order to secure the disc 58 relatively loosely in position. A relatively loose mounting is important in order to permit the snapping movement of the disc 58, as will be pointed out hereinafter. The diameter of the housing 51is such that it slides easily in the cylindrical chamber 1 of the body portion The disc 58 is initially formed in such manner that its general shape is slightly conical in one direction. As a result of the initial shaping of the disc, it may be overcentered by applying a force to occupy a conformation of conicity in the oppo- However, this conformation of conicity in the opposite direction is only relatively stable and persists only so long as a minimum force is applied to the disc. Whenever such a force is removed, the disc automatically snaps back to-its initial position. For this reason, the

disc in its initial position, is referred to as being in a position of absolute stability while in its over-centered position, it is referred to as being in its position of comparative stability.

The reasons for this characteristic of the disc are set forth in detail in the said Spencer Patent 1,972,172, and need not be repeated herein. It is to be noted, however, that the force required to move the disc from its position of absolute sta-' bility to its position of comparative stability is greater than the force required to maintain said disc in its position of comparative stability once it has been placed there.

Returning to Fig. 4, it will be seen that there is mounted in the central opening 60 of the disc 58, a plug element 66, which has a cylindrical body with a rounded nose 61 and an outwardly extending flange 68. The opposite end of the plug is reduced in diameter to receive a washer 10, and is then upset to hold said washer '10 in position. The inner periphery of the disc 58 is received loosely between the flange 68 and the Washer 10. The loose fit is essential in order to permit a snapping movement of the disc. The plug 66 is longitudinally drilled as indicated at numeral 1|, and laterally drilled, as indicated at numeral 12, in order to provide a free path for gas to pass from the right of the disc 58'tothe interior of the housing 51. A hole 13 is also provided in the back of the housing 51, in order to permit the gas to flow freely therethrough to the region of the chamber 1 back of the housing 51.

It will be seen that the rounded nose 61 of the plug 66 seats in a spherical bottom 14 provided inside an upstanding flange 15 on the back face of the valve closure element 29.

The various parts are so dimensioned that, with the valve 29 seated on the seat l3 and the disc 58 in its position of absolute stability (conical to the right, when referred to Fig. 4) the stem 4| is in its outwardly extended position with the backseating valve 42-seated upon its seat 43. Under these conditions, the position of the threaded stem 9 in the plug I1 is likewise so adjusted that when the bulb 25 is cold, a firm contact is had between the end 3| of the bellows 2| and the valve stem 21, but little or no pressure is exerted on said valve stem 21 by the bellows 2|.

Under these conditions, the resilient force of the disc 58, when in its position of absolute stability, is brought to bear upon the valve closure element 29 in such a manner as to seat it tightly upon its seat l3. The resilient force of the disc 58 is likewise broughtto bear upon the back-seating valve 42, in such a manner as to seat it tightly upon its seat 43. Thus, no gas is permitted to pass from the inlet chamber 1 to either the outlet chamber 8 or to the preheat pilot burner line 5|.

The operation of the valve as thus described is as follows:

The system comprising the bellows 2| and bulb 25 is filled with a fluid or gas or the like which undergoes considerable volume change upon change of temperature. The choice of the fluid or gas to be used depends upon the range of temperature in which the device is to be used. Argon, for example, has been found best in the present instance because of the high temperature at which it is desired to operate the bulb. Argon is an inert gas even at high temperatures and the walls of the container are less permeable to it than to other inert gases. Under what will hereinafter be termed cold-conditions, the volume of the fluid is such that the end 3| of the bellows 2| exerts a rotating the threaded stem I8 to regulate the.

longitudinal position of thebellows 2| in the cylindrical housing I5, and thereafter retightening the nut 22.

The valve is initially considered to be in the position shown in ,Fig. 4. The first operation of the user comprises manually pushing button 43 into the valve casing. This action, in the first place, unseats the back-seating valve 42 from its seat 40, permitting passage of gas from the inlet chamber 1 through the passages 44, 45, 45, 50,- and 52 in sequence, to the present pilotburner 53. In thus pushing the button 43, the operator has displaced the disc 58 to the amount permitted by the degree of movement of the button, but not entirely to its position of comparative stability. This movement of the disc is accomplished by the movement applied on its periphery by the housing 51, reacting against the relatively stationary central portion of the disc, as held in position by the plug 66 abutting the seated main valve 29. If the operator relaxes the force on the button 43 to a value less than that required to hold the disc in its intermediate displaced position, it will be seen that the disc 58 immediately moves back to its position of absolute stability, shutting off the back-seating valve. &

However, assuming that the operator, for the time being, holds the push button 43 in its pushedin position, it will be seen that gas will flow to'the bellows system will commence to expand. Ulti-f mately, the expansion will be suflicient so that the end 3| of the'bellows 2| will react against the valve stem 21 with a force suflicient to carry the disc 58 from its intermediate displaced position the rest of the way to its position of comparative stability. When this condition has been achieved, the operator will find that he can relax his hold on the button43. move back to its extended position, but without a snap movement. Here it'will be seen that the disc 58 is now maintained in its leftward conical position, or position of comparative stability, not by the manually applied force of the operator, but'by the force exerted bythe bellows 2|. The position of the elements is now suchthat the main valve 29, is unseated from its seat I3, permitting the flow of gas to the outlet chamber 9. The stem 4| being in its extended position, however, the back-seating valve 42 is now seated upon its seat 40, preventing the flow of gas through the line 52 to the preheat pilot burner 53. The disc 58 is maintained in its position of. comparative stability by the force exerted on itscentral portion by the plug 86, reacting against the now rigidly held periphery of the disc (rigid because of seating of the back-seating valve 42); i

long as a pilot burner I38, to be described hereinafter, is burning, the fluid is maintainedhot enough to sustain the force necessary tokeep the disc 58 in its position. of comparative stability.

If, however, the said pilot burner I38 should go out permitting the fluid in the bulb and bellows system to cool, the bellows 2| will no longer main- The button will thereupon.

I periphery of a circular diaphragm I23. The bulb 25 is normally so positioned that, as

mainvalve 29 upon its seat I8, thusreturningall of their elements to their initial, or Fig. 4, position.

Before further operation of the mainburner can then be obtained, it is necessary that an operator manually push the button 43, or, in other words, repeat the cycleof events above described.

It is to be noted that the adjustment of the I bellows 2| in the housing I5 is so arranged that under normal temperature conditions the force of the bellows 2| is never permitted to build up to such a value as would overcenter the disc from valve Y comprises a diaphragm valve assembly,

indicated broadly by index-character A, a bleeder valve assembly B, and a thermostatic control C for the bleeder valve B. In the operation of the invention, which will be elucidated in considerably more detail hereinafter, the bleeder valve B, which is operated by the thermostatic control C in response to ambient temperature variations, constitutes a relaysystem causing operation of the diaphragm Valve A. Flor facility of description, the diaphragm valve A will first be described in detail.

Numeral IOI indicates the rear half of a valve casing, which is generally circular in shape. This casing IOI has a flat portion I02 which is adapted to abuta similar fiat portion I04 (see Fig. 4) T on the outlet side of the pilot valve casing I, and be held thereto by screws|08 (see Fig. 6). An inlet passage I03 is provided in this flat portion I02, said inlet passage I03, in assembly, communicating with, the outlet passage 5 of the safety pilot valve. A main inlet passage 25I likewise is provided and connects the diaphragm valve A with the safety pilot valve X. A gasket I08 is desirably fitted between the safety pilot valve X and the regulator valve Y.

A vertical tubular portion I01 is provided at the center of the'casing IOI, the outer end of as indicated at numeral I00, which receives an outlet pipe III. The outlet pipe III conducts gas to a main burner IIO. An auxiliary outlet II2, normally closed by a plug H4, is also provided. The inner end II3 of the tubular portion I01 is formed-as a valve seat. The upper periphery of the casing I 0| is provided, with a flange II5 which juxtaposes a similar flange I I1 on the front half II9 of the valve casing. The front casing member 8- is likewise circular, and is interiorly hollow to provide a. chamber I2 I. Between the flanges II5 and II 1 is clamped the Studs I25- hold the two halves of the casing together .Abolt I21, together withits nut I29, secures to the center of the diaphragm I23 a valve closure element I 3|, which is positioned to seat upon the valveseat II3. Between the closure element 'I3I and the diaphragm I23 are a weight member I33 and brass washers I35 which serve to protect the surfaces of the leather of the diaphragm I23 from the bolt I 21.

A threaded outlet I 31 provides means for connecting a conduit 252 for the supply of a main pilot burner I38 for ignition purposes at the main burner IIII. This pilot burner I38 is normally kept burning as long as the main valve of the safety pilot valve X is open, regardless of whether or not the main burner H0 is burning. It is also disposed to apply its heat to the bulb 25. It is normally ignited by the preheat pilot burner 53.

Connecting the outlet 5 of the safety pilot valve X (and hence the chamber I4I of the lower casing NH), and the chamber I2I of the upper casing II9, by way of the passage I03, is a passage I43, which has inserted therein an orifice member I45. The orifice member I45, which is of usual construction, has an opening I41 therethrough through which gas may pass, but only at a comparatively slow rate. An adjustable needle valve may be substituted for the orifice member I45, if adjustability is desired.

The front casing member H9 is provided with a flat portion I49, upon which is mounted the bleeder valve and thermostatic control assemlies B and C, respectively. Studs I5I secure a body portion I53, having an outwardly extending flange I55, to said fiat portion I49, a gasket I51 being interposed therebetween to secure a gas-tight connection. The body I53 is generally cup-shaped, having aninner chamber I59 therein. The outer end of the body I53 is interiorly threaded to receive a closure IGI. A passage I63 leads downwardly from the chamber I59 to connect with a similarly positioned passage I65 in the front valve casing member II9 (a suitable opening in the gasket I51 being provided).

The intersection of the passage I63 and the chamber I59 provides a circular valve seat I69, against which closes a. valve closure element "I of customary conical form, which is carried at the lower end of a stem I13. The stem I13 slides in a suitable bore in the closure I6I. A valve seat I15 is likewise provided in the closure I6I, against which seats a reverse conical portion I11 on the valve closure element I1I; this arrangement providing for back-seating of the bleeder valve.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5, there is provided a passage I19 leading from the chamber I59, and coinciding with a passage I8I in the front valve casing II9, which in turn coincides with a passage I83 in the lowervalve casing IIlI. The passage I83 in turn communicates with a bore I84 that connects with the passage 5I in the casing I of the safety pilot valve X. It will be understood that a suitable opening is provided in the gasket I08 to make this connection possible. This connection is one of the principal features in the present invention. As will be seen, it provides that the bleed flow from the diaphragm or regulator valve Y is conducted from the entire combination in the same line that conducts the gas from the safety pilot valve to the pre-heat pilot 53. Within the regulator valve, the passage I19I8II83 comprises a bleeder line. By its connection with the pipe 52 and pilot burner 53, it leads to a region of relatively lower pressure than the interior of the regulator valve. In addition, it leads whatever gas may be bled from the regulator valve, in the course of regulation, to a pilot burner where it is sure to be ignited under all circumstances, and thus not escape into the atmosphere.

Mounted on the flat surface of the closure IBI is the thermostatic control C. It is desirable, in order to protect the thermostatic elements from the heat- (or cold-) storage of the valve body, that a layer of heat insulation I81 be secured between the closure IBI and the control elements mounted thereon, but such provision is not absolutely essential. The important element of the thermostatic control comprises a composite thermostatic metal, radially corrugated disc I89, of the general type shown in John A. Spencer Patent 1,895,591, issued January 31, 1933, and entirely similar to the disc 58 in the safety pilot valve X.

The disc I89 has a smooth peripheral region I9I by which it is mounted. Three studs I93 are threaded into the closure IBI, the studs I93 each having a nut portion I95 formed immovably thereon. The placement of the studs is such that the periphery I9I of the disc I89 rests upon these three nut portions I95. Sleeves or collars I91 are then slipped on the studs I93, the periphery I9I being positioned betweenthe nut portions I95 and sleeves I91, a raised shoulder on the nut portions I95, slightly higher than the thickness of the disc edge I9I, keeping the disc from being tightly bound. A plate I99 is next placed in position on the studs I93, and the nuts 20I clamp all of these elements in one position.

The disc I89 is provided with a central hole or opening 203, through which passes the threaded upper end of stem I13 of the bleeder valve closure element I11. A collar 295, which has outwardly extending flanges 209 and 2I I, is formed around the inner periphery of the disc I89, so that said flanges 299 and 2H loosely embrace the inner periphery of the disc I89 therebetween. A look nut 2I3 secures the collar 205 in position on the stem I13. By these means the themostatic displacement of the central portion of the disc I89 reciprocates the valve stem I13 on its axis, and hence operates the bleeder valve.

The thermostatic disc I89 is subject, in operation, to two adjustments, namely, adjustment of the operating differential and adjustment of the operating temperature. The operating differential of the disc constitutes the difference between the temperature that it snaps from cold to hot position upon increase of temperature, and the temperature that it snaps from hot to cold position upon decrease of temperature. As is explained in more detail in John A. Spencer Patent No. 1,972,832, dated September 4, 1934, this operating differential may be controlled by limiting the extent of movement of the central, movable portion of the disc I89 between its hot and cold positions, and by shifting the point of bearing of a spring 2I5 on the disc I89, both of these means being used when a very small difierential is desired. In the present invention, the differential is set once and for all in the factory assembly of the valve, and no means are provided for external differential adjustment. The-limitation of the extent of movement of the central movable part of the disc is achieved by restricting the degree of movement permitted between the direct and back-seated positions of the bleeder valve closure element "I. The required degree of factory adjustment is here provided by the extent to which the closure element I6I is threaded into the body I53. Since the disc I89 is mechanically coupled for movement with the stem I13 of the valve closure element I1I restriction of the extent of movement of said closure element is likewise a restriction of the extent of movement of the disc I89. The final difierential adjustment ol-'Ethe clamp supporting the same (after loosen- ;ldg' bolts 2I1) so as to adjust the point of bear- I ing of the leaf spring on the disc toward or away from the center of the disc. The particular structure and function of the leaf spring 2I5 is brought out hereinafter.

Temperature control, as distinguished from differential control, is the control of the temperature at which the disc snaps in eitherdirection. This control is achieved, in the present invention, as in said Spencer Patent No. 1,972,832, by the application of a variable resilientforce to the movable region of the disc I89 tending to aid or oppose its snapping movement. This variable resilient force is provided by a resilient blade, or leaf-spring 2 I 5,

one end of which is clamped by a pair of bolts 2 I1 to the underside of the plate I99, and the other end of which is bent downwardly, as at numeral 2 I 9, to engage the surface of disc I89. A hole 22I in the blade 2 I5 permits free passage of the valve stem I13. Threaded into a suitable nut 223 mounted in the plate I99 is a stud 225, the lower end of which bears against the upper surface of blade 2 I 5. The upper end of the stud 225 carries an adjusting knob 221 which has a pointer 229 thereon. It will readily be seen that threading the stud 225 into the plate I99 increases the resilient pressure on the disc I89, while threading the stud outof the plate I99 decreases the resilient pressure on the disc I89. Thus is the operating temperature of the disc varied.

The entire thermostatic control assembly C and the bleeder valve assembly B are encased in a cup-shaped cover portion 23I, which is held in position by nuts 233 on the studs I93. Two of the nuts 233 act as stops to limit the are through which adjusting knob 221 may be turned. A scale 235 is provided to cooperate with the pointer 229 on knob 221 to indicate the temperature for which the .control is set to operate. The cover 23I is desirably provided with many openings 231 therethrough, so that air currents will maintain the region of the disc I89 at the ambient temperature surrounding the valve as a whole.

The operation of the regulator valve Y as thus described is as follows:

It is assumed that the safety pilot valve X is in open position so that line gas pressure is provided in the rear chamber "II of the regulator valve through said safety pilot valve. It is'also assumed, initially, that the thermostat I89 is in its hot, downwardly-conical position, thus holding the bleeder valve "I closed.

Under these conditions, gas will leak throughthe passage I43 and orifice member I45 into the forward chamber I2I, and therein build up a pressure equal to that in the chamber I4 I. Thus, with the pressure on each side of it the same, the diaphragm I23 will, under the influence of the weight I33, cause the valve closure element I 3| to seat upon the valve seat H3, and thereby cut off the flow of gas to the outlet pipe III.

It will be understood that, in operation, the entire assembly must be mounted so that the diaphragm I23 is substantially horizontal.

However, if the ambient temperature drops past the temperature set by the knob 221, the disc I89 snaps over to its upwardly conical position, thus removing the valve closure element I1I from its seat I69 and permitting gas from chamber I2I to flow to chamber I59 and thence through passages I19, I8I; I83, I84, 5|, and 52 to the pilot burner 53, where it is ignited and burned. This means that the pressure in chamber I2I will at once drop, since the orifice member I45 prevents flow of gas from the chamber I in sumcient volume to keep up the pressure therein, and because of the now greater pressure on the under side of diaphragm I23, it will move, upwardly and unseat thevalve I3I, thus permitting the flow of gas to the outlet pipe I I I.

As soon as the ambient temperature reaches the required minimum, however, the bleeder valve "I immediately closes and at once pressure is again built up in the chamber I2I to close the diaphragm valve again.

By setting the knob 221, the temperature at which the valve opens may readilybe controlled throughout the desired range of values.

The valve as described is conditioned to operate so that it is open below a certain temperature, and closed above another certain tempera.- ture. The difference between these certain temperatures is the operating differential of the thermostat. If a reverse action is desired (that is, if it be desired that the valve be closed below a certainv temperature and. open thereabove), this can most readily be done by inverting the thermostatic disc I89, so that it is upwardly conical in its hot position, and downwardly conical in its cold position.

Considered as a combination, it will be seen that the safety pilot valve and theregulator or diaphragm valve, thus described, operate serially on the flow of gas from the inlet 3 through to the outlet III. The safety pilot valve provides that no gas flow reaches the regulator valve in any event, unless the main pilot burner is ignited. The regulating valve, in turn, controls the burning of the main burner H in accordance with ambient temperature, as long as the safety pilot valve permits.

A particular advantage of the combination is the manner in which the outlet for the preheating pilot 53 and the bleeder line from the regulator valve are combined. This arrangement provides a convenient disposal or utilization for the bleed gas from the regulator valve, and at the same time, provides a highly efficient, utilizable pre-heating pilot for the gas burner control system, to operate in conjunction with the safety pilot valve.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1. In combinationin a unitary structure, a safety pilot valve and a diaphragm-type regulator valve, inlet means for said safety pilot .valve, outlet means for said safety pilot valve constituting also the inlet means for said regulator valve, and outlet means for said regulator valve, said safety pilot valve having a back-seating valve therein and a passage leading from said backseating valve, and said regulator valve having a bleed line therein, said bleed line communicating with and forming apart of said last-named passage.

2. In combination in a unitary structure, a safety pilot valve and a diaphragm-type regulator valve, inlet means for said safety pilot valve,

outlet means for said'safety pilot valve constituting also the inlet means for said regulator valve,

and outlet means for said regulator valve, said safety pilot valve having a back-seating valve therein and a passage leading from said backseating valve, and said regulator valve having a 5 bleed line therein, said bleed line communicating with and forming a. part of said last-named passage, and outlet means communicating with the inlet side of said regulator valve.

3. In a gas burner system, a main burner, a

10, main pilot burner, and an auxiliary pilot burner,

and a combination safety pilot valve and regulator valve connected in the gas supply line to said main burner, said safety pilot valve having an outlet communicating with said auxiliary pilot,

15 said last-named outlet also communicating with a bleed valve in said regulator valve.

4. In a gas burner system, a main burner, a main pilot burner, and an auxiliary pilot burner, and a combination safety pilot valve and regu- 20 lator valve connected in the gas supply line to said main burner, said safety pilot .valve having an outlet communicating 'with said auxiliary pilot, said last-named outlet also communicating with a bleed .valvein said regulator valve, a separate outlet in the inlet side of said regulator valve communicating with said main pilot burner.

5. In a gas burner system, a main burner, a main pilot burner, and an auxiliary pilot burner, and a combination safety pilot valve and regulator valve connected in the gas supply line to said main burner, said safety pilot valve having an outletcommunicating with said auxiliary pilot, said last-named outlet also communicating with a bleed valve in said regulator valve, said safety pilot valve having a thermostatic system for operating the same, said thermostatic system comprising a bulb and bellows system, said bulb being located in juxtaposition to said main burner and said main and said auxiliary pilot burners.

6. In combination, a safety pilot valve and diaphragm-type regulator valve, said combination having a unitary outlet passage, said unitary outlet passage connecting with a back-seating valve in said pilot valve and with a bleed line forming part of said regulator valve.

AUGUST GEORGE SCHAEFER. 

